A fitful fungus from a hot, arid climate increases grain yield in cool-cultivated barley

Abstract

Purpose The fungus Piriformospora indica was first isolated from plants growing in arid, hot desert conditions and has been shown to have significant potential as a biocontrol and biofertilising organism in barley under optimal growth conditions. However, it was not thought to be effective in plants grown in low temperatures and has consequently not been well tested in cold-stressed crops. This study sought to determine the effects of inoculating barley plants with this fungus in cool growth conditions with variable nutrient input. Methods Three barley varieties were inoculated with P. indica and two other fungal root endophytes, Chaetomium globosum and Epicoccum nigrum, in a controlled environment under low temperature stress with variable nutrient input, and measured growth, development and yield. Results With the higher nutrient input, the P.indica-inoculated plants flowered earlier and had 22% greater grain yield than the control. The other two endophytes, C. globosum and E. nigrum, conferred no significant benefits under either nutrient regime. Conclusions Piriformospora indica is easy to culture and propagate, and may have significant biofertilisation potential as a crop treatment for barley grown in cool climates enable the profitable cultivation of barley in previously marginal sites and reduce the carbon footprint of barley through increased nitrogen use efficiency.